PHOENIX — In a thrilling contest on Thursday night, Bradley Beal led the Phoenix Suns to a 123-115 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 25 points. Kevin Durant contributed significantly as well, netting 23 points in the game. Beal, who is still acclimating to his new role coming off the bench, had an impressive shooting night, making 11 of 16 attempts, showcasing one of his best performances this season. Devin Booker also had a strong showing with 20 points and 12 assists, despite struggling from beyond the arc, finishing the night without making any of his eight 3-point attempts.
As the third quarter came to a close, Beal capped off the period with a driving layup, which helped the Suns establish a 98-92 lead heading into the final quarter. Grayson Allen, who contributed 23 points, connected on his fifth 3-pointer of the night, pushing the Suns ahead 120-105 with just over three minutes remaining in the game. Although the Hawks responded with a quick 10-point run, Allen secured the victory for Phoenix with a tough layup in traffic with only 36 seconds left on the clock.
The Hawks were paced by Trae Young, who scored 21 points and dished out seven assists. A total of seven players from Atlanta reached double figures in scoring. The game began with the Suns taking an early lead of 38-31 in the first quarter, shooting a sizzling 75% from the field. However, the Hawks fought back in the second quarter, rallying with their own impressive shooting display to take a 72-68 lead by halftime.
In terms of observations from the game, the Hawks slipped back to a .500 record for the season after facing difficulties in containing the Suns’ powerful offense. The team has now lost four of its last five contests and felt the absence of forward Jalen Johnson, who was sidelined for a third consecutive game due to right shoulder inflammation.
On the other hand, the Suns have managed to win two of their last three games as they aim to shake off a slump that has lasted nearly two months. With their core trio now healthy, the Suns are poised to build some momentum moving forward, although they still have work to do.
A critical moment in the game came when Durant, Tyus Jones, and Allen sunk three consecutive 3-pointers, propelling the Suns to a 120-105 advantage with just over four minutes remaining. Notably, the Suns finished the game with an impressive shooting percentage of 57.6%.
Looking ahead, the Hawks will host the Houston Rockets on Saturday, while the Suns will face off against the Utah Jazz also on Saturday.
